American Pygmy facts for kids
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Standard | National Pygmy Goat Association |
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| Horn status | horned in both sexes |
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The American Pygmy is a special kind of goat from the United States. It is known for being small, compact, and strong. This breed is related to the West African Dwarf goats found in West Africa.
Between the 1930s and 1960s, these small goats were brought to the United States. They were first used in zoos or for scientific research. Later, some people started keeping them as pets. In 1975, the American Pygmy was officially recognized as its own breed. It is sometimes called the Pygmy Goat or African Pygmy. It is different from the British Pygmy breed.
Contents
History of the American Pygmy Goat
How the Breed Started
Small goats from West Africa, part of the West African Dwarf group, were brought to the United States. This happened between 1930 and 1960. They came from zoos in Germany. In the U.S., they were shown in zoos or used for research.
Some of these goats were bought by private breeders. These breeders started keeping and raising them as pets. By the 1970s, two main types of these small goats had developed.
Developing Two Types of Goats
One type was broad, compact, and solid, much like the original African goats. The other type was more delicate, looking like a tiny dairy goat. The more delicate type became the Nigerian Dwarf. The strong, compact type became the American Pygmy.
In 1975, a special group was formed for the American Pygmy. They also started a herd book in the same year. This book helps keep track of all the purebred American Pygmy goats.
Conservation Status
In 2007, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said the American Pygmy was "endangered." This means there were not many of them left. By 2019, it was listed as "at risk" in a global animal database.
Related Breeds
The American Pygmy has also helped create other goat breeds. The Kinder breed was made by mixing American Pygmies with Nubian goats. The Pygora breed came from mixing American Pygmies with Angora goats.
Characteristics of the American Pygmy
Physical Appearance
The American Pygmy is a small and sturdy goat. It has strong bones. They usually stand about 40 to 50 centimeters (16 to 20 inches) tall at the shoulder. They weigh around 25 to 40 kilograms (55 to 88 pounds).
Coat Colors
The breed standard recognizes seven different color patterns for their coats:
- Caramel with black markings
- Caramel with brown markings
- Brown agouti (a mix of brown and black hairs)
- Grey agouti (a mix of grey and black hairs)
- Black agouti (a mix of black and lighter hairs)
- Black with white markings
- Solid black
Breeding Habits
American Pygmy goats can breed all year round. They are known for having many babies (kids) at once. They also mature very quickly. Sometimes, kids can become ready to breed when they are only two months old. Pregnancy usually lasts between 145 and 153 days.
Uses of the American Pygmy
The American Pygmy goat is used for several purposes. Many are raised for their meat. They are also very popular as pets because of their small size and friendly nature. You can often see them in zoos too.
Because they are small and easy to handle, American Pygmies are also used in scientific research. For example, they are good at producing antibodies. These antibodies are important for studying how the body fights off diseases.
